Do You Suffer from ‘Cell Phone Vibration Syndrome’?

Ever had your phone on vibrate and thought it was buzzing when it really wasn’t? You’re not alone. Research suggests a lot of us have what’s been dubbed “phantom cell phone vibration syndrome.”

In his new book ‘iDisorder,’ psychology professor Larry Rosen says just the anticipation of a call, text or email can make people misinterpret innocent “neurological stimulation” (like your purse brushing against your body or your pants rubbing against your leg) as actual phone vibrations. And it can lead to real problems.

“Interacting with our technology can make us display signs and symptoms of everything ranging from depression to mania to narcissism to voyeurism – you name it,” Rosen says, adding that a technology addiction can also interfere with social interactions, our jobs and even our family lives.

So what’s the best way to combat it?

“Develop your own tech break,” says Rosen. “Every couple of hours find one way to get away from all of it — phones, computers, everything — for 10 to 15 minutes. [It's] what neuroscientists call ‘resetting your brain’ … Our brain is at a constant, high-activation level and we need time to let it mellow, rest and reset, so then we can better process information.”